Top Players to Add in Week 4
A great draft can make a great team, but leagues are won on the waiver wire. Injuries happen, top draft picks become busts, and no names become household names. Successfully navigating the waiver wire will lead to a winning season.
As a reminder, I’ll be covering Waivers every Tuesday morning right here on football.pitcherlist.com. You can also catch me and Brian Hartman (aka @TooMuch_Brian) on the Waiver podcast every Tuesday morning and the Start/Sit podcast every Thursday morning, wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like my work, give me a follow on Twitter @marioadamojr. With that out of the way, let’s dive into it.
Here are my top five targets, as well as some honorable mentions, to help you win through the wire this week.
An important thing to consider: this article focuses on players who are rostered in 50% or fewer of leagues. There could be players rostered in over 50% of leagues that are available in your league. Be vigilant; watch your league’s Free Agency pool and look for players who were given up on too early.
1. Tyquan Thornton – For the second straight week, Tyquan Thornton was the most productive Kansas City receiver. His target share jumped up from 17% in Week 2 to 26% in Week 3. While Xavier Worthy is still out and has a chance to eat into that target share when he returns, Thornton has cemented his role as the deep threat. Thorton’s aDoT (average depth of target) was 34 yards in Week 2. In Week 3, he played that deep threat role again, while also getting red zone looks, as he and JuJu Smith-Schuster were the only wideouts with a red zone target. Thorton caught his, leading to the touchdown. While Thornton may not have value when Rashee Rice returns in Week 7, I can see Thornton having an immediate impact while also continuing to provide value even when Worthy is healthy. Thorton is my top WR waiver target.
2. Calvin Austin III – I’ve mentioned it on the Start/Sit podcast; it’s time I mention it in the written word. Verbal meme, Pam from The Office holds up a picture of DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III. They’re the same picture! The only difference is that Metcalf came with a high ADP, while Austin is free on waivers. Both receivers have the same number of red zone targets and the same number of touchdowns. In higher volume stats, Austin has only two fewer targets this season than Metcalf and less than 10 fewer yards, 135 to 126! While Aaron Rodgers is far from the MVP he once was, this offense operates through him, not the ground game. There have been some doubts about Austin. When Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith joined the staff this offseason, he brought over his favorite tight end, and possible relative, Jonnu Smith. Smith has been seen to eat into fantasy players’ targets–Kyle Pitts while in Atlanta, and both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle while in Miami–but Smith’s targets have been dropping in each of the last three weeks. Rodgers has always shown he will force-feed his guys. Remember Allen Lazard on the Jets? Austin has a clear path to fantasy relevance and is one of my favorite waiver targets while he’s out there.
3. Kareem Hunt – As a perennial Pacheco preacher, this one pains me. I’m ready to admit, Kareem Hunt might be the running back to roster in Kansas City. For the second time in three weeks, Hunt and Isiah Pacheco had the same number of carries AND the same number of targets. They each had a red zone carry; Pacheco’s came at the 12-yard line, Hunt’s came at the 1, resulting in a touchdown. That carry at the 1-yard line is louder than anything I could type here. Pacheco is the Gibbs, Hunt is the Monty. The difference is that Pacheco appears to have lost the juice. He can’t make the kind of plays he was once known for, while Hunt is still the big bruiser he always was. Last week was the closest snap count yet, with only a 12% difference in favor of Pacheco. The gap is closing; we need to jump through it while we can. Hunt is my top RB waiver target.
4. Woody Marks – This one is a deeper cut. Woody Marks isn’t setting the world on fire at the moment, but he’s trending upwards. Dare Ogunbowale, the primary change-up back last year, has seen his snap count drop while Marks’ snap count continues to rise. This past week, Ogunbowale participated in zero snaps while Marks was out there a season-high 30, only 3 behind backfield-leader Nick Chubb. According to PFF, Marks posted a higher Run grade to Chubb, 57.9 to 55.7. We have no idea if/when Joe Mixon will return to this backfield. As it stands, this backfield belongs to Chubb, but he’s losing ground to Marks. Marks is my favorite stash if you have the bench space.
5. Tre Tucker – This one might be a little reactionary, but how can we not talk about the season-ranked WR3! Of course, a majority of that came from his three-touchdown performance this week. Will Tre Tucker bring in three touchdowns every week? No, but will Jonathan Taylor rush for three touchdowns every week? Also no, but we’re still starting him every week. Usually, it’s Jakobi Meyers getting the majority of targets. In fact, this was the first week Meyers did not get double-digit targets. Tucker, on the other hand, has seen his targets climb every week. This also happened to be a season low for Brock Bowers in targets. Maybe it was a perfect storm for Tucker, but as Geno Smith continues to get a grip on this offense, Tucker could remain viable. I see Tucker as a Jameson Williams-esque player. He has the ceiling, but you have to live with the floor. I’m not unloading the FAAB or a high-priority waiver on Tucker, but I sprinkle a few FAAB on him and am happy to carry him as a premium bye-week option.
Others Receiving Votes
Juwan Johnson, NO (48% ESPN, 44% Yahoo) – Our favorite tight end has finally seen some regression; instead of double-digit targets, Juwan Johnson only had eight. His TE12 finish is his lowest of the season. I’m still buying, and I’m shocked he’s still rostered in under 50% of leagues. Johnson should be rostered; he’s a set-and-forget TE1. Johnson is my top TE waiver target.
Hunter Henry, NE (44% ESPN, 60% Yahoo) – I can’t quit NE pass catchers, and it will be the end of my fantasy career. Except for when they hit! And Hunter Henry has been giving me life. Henry finally found the end zone for the first and second(!) time this season. Even without the touchdown, he has the upside. Henry has at least 8 targets in two of three weeks, and he leads the team with 5 red zone opportunities.
Sterling Shepard, TB (0% ESPN, 0% Yahoo) – With Mike Evans having a hamstring injury, it could be next man up in Tampa Bay. Chris Godwin may be that next man up, but if Godwin sits out another week, I like Sterling Shepard against Philadelphia.
Blake Corum, LAR (6% ESPN, 17% Yahoo) – I wrote my big excerpt last week when I had Blake Corum in my Top 5. He’s still a high-priority waiver target for me in most leagues. He’s a handcuff that sees meaningful snaps. I can go on and on, but I did that last week; check it out here.
Daniel Jones, IND (5% ESPN, 72% Yahoo) – Yahoo has heard my cries, but ESPN leagues are still in the dark. Pick up Daniel Jones! He’s QB3 on the season!
Geno Smith, LV (9% ESPN, 28% Yahoo) – Just when we wrote off Geno Smith, he didn’t write back. Currently QB10 after putting up 26.1 points last week. Seems like things are finally clicking in Las Vegas.
Mac Jones, SF (0% ESPN, 8% Yahoo) – For as long as Brock Purdy is out, Mac Jones is fantasy relevant. When your job is to get the ball to playmakers like Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian McCaffery, you’re often in line for a good day.
Spencer Shrader, IND (1% ESPN, 27% Yahoo) – The number one kicker after three(!) weeks is available in 70+% of leagues! If you play with a kicker, scoop him up. Set and forget double-digit points every week. If you’re 3-0, Spencer Shrader is my number one waiver target this week. Yahoo heard me, but clearly, ESPN is lagging! Pick up Shrader!
Defense Wins Championships
The Houston Texans (58%) host the Titans. Cam Ward and his offense have not found a consistent rhythm yet. Calvin Ridley has not shaken off his case of drops-itus. The Titans allow the 2nd most points to opposing defenses. The Texans have 9 sacks, tied for fifth most. The Texans are my number one defense this week.
The Detroit Lions (53%) host the Browns. The Browns give up the 5th most points to opposing defenses. Not only do they have a good matchup this week, but they also travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals next week. The Bengals’ offense looked atrocious last week against the Vikings.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on IG & Threads, @kuwasemiller on Bluesky)